Tail lamp



A ril 25, 1933. H. c. MEAD 1,905,182

TAIL LAMP Filed July 29 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. C. MEAD April 25, 1933.

TAIL LAMP Filed July 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 1 UNITED SSTTATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD c. MEAD, F Ammnson, INDIANA, Ass ration 'ro GUIDE LAMP CORPORATION,

i or ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE TAIL LAMP Application filed July 29,

i This invention has to do with rear lamps for, automobiles such as are commonly mounted on the rear fenders' The invention consists designing the lamp so that it maybe cheaply made out of sheet metal an easily assembled.

In the drawings: Figure l is a vertical section through the improved lamp.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the parts of the lamp assembly.

Figure 3 shows a modified assembly which may be employed.

Figure 4 is a section through a slightly 15 modified design of lamp.

'Figure 5 is a view ofthe back of the lamp (housing of the construction shown in Figure 4. h

indicates a cup-shaped stamping drawn out of flat sheet metal having one end '12 expanded to form a lamp housing. The closed end of the stamping is indicated at 14. The member 10 maybe apertured as shown at "16 to receive the usualv glass 18 through '25 which light is projected on the license plate.

Over the end 12' of the stamping is secured a cover glass 20. 'The cover glass may be secured in position by lens ring 22 having an inturned flange 24 provided with an aperture 26 to receive tongue 28 extending upwardly from an inturned flange formed on the expanded portion of the stamping 10. ,To the lower end of the lens ring 22 is secured stamping 30 having a threaded aper- 3 6 ture within which is received the screw 32 passing through a hole in the stamping 10.

The closed end 14 of the stamping 10 is preferably provided with an angled circular boss 34 having a central aperture. Lamp socket 36 is secured to the aperture by means of an integral rivet 38 as shown in Figure 1.

The rear portion 40 of the lamp assembly likewise preferably consists of a cup-shaped 48 stamping drawn out of flat sheet metal having an expanded end 42 closed by means of plate 44 held in place by spinning the edge of the stamping over it. The closed end of the stamping is indicated by character 44.

If desired members 10 and 40 may be made 1932. Serial No. 625,775.

of severed pieces or of one piece with -a Welded longitudinal seam but the described construction while more difiicult to formis cheaper and much more satisfactory. Within the closed end of the stamping 40 is secureda stiffening plate 46, likewise apertured. I

I have shown at 48alic'ense plate holder having an extension 50 apertu-red in align, mentwith the apertures in the closed ends of the stampings 10 and 40, and in the stiffening plate 46. The extension 50 preferably conforms somewhat in shape to the ends of the stampings and may be provided with diverging flanges 52 hearing against the sides of the stamping40. g

The described parts may be assembled as shown in Figure 1 with the license plate holder 48 arranged between the stampings. The parts are secured together by screws or other fastening means 54 passing through i the parts 14, 50, 44 and 46, and preferably threaded in bosses formed in the latter. With this arrangement, the fastening means is concealed within the tubular stampings. The conductors 56 supplying current to the lamp 58 mounted in socket 36 extend through the alined apertures previously'referred to and are concealed from View withi in the tubular stamping '80 The described construction will serve for secured in place by suitable fastening bolts passing through the'fe'nder and the aper-.

tures 58 in the plate 44. For the right rear fender, the plate 48 may be omitted, the parts then being asse'mbled as shown in Figure 3. With this arrangement, by properly finishing the stampings,the appearance of an integral structure may be obtained. The socket 36 is preferabl mounted'o'n an upturned boss '34 as descri (1, so that the bulb may be very close to the license'plate window 18, insuring better illumination; By providing two rear lamp "assemblies, one with a license plate holder and one without, andboth made up of identical elements, standardization of parts is insured and the 4, cost of manufacture is reduced. The slight 0 difference in extent of projection of the two rear lamps owing to the omission of the license plate holder 5L8 from one of them will be found to be so slight as not to be noticeable.

In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, 60 indicates the integral cup-shaped lamp housing, 62 thecup-shaped support, and 64 the license plate holder interposed between the lamp housing and support. The chief difference in construction between this form and that previously described lies in the fact that the bulbs 66 and 68 are mounted in supports 70 and 72, respectively, pressed out of the license plate holder 64:. Another difference consists in the fact that the closed end of the stamping 60 is provided with a depression 74 exactly fitting the depending portion of the license plate holder, thereby holding it against movement. The end of the lamp housing is likewise provided with a central aperture 76, shaped to permit passage of the supports 70 and 72 bent up from the license plate holder.

The bulbs 66 and 68 may be supported in any suitable manner in the supports 7 0 and 72. The leads from the bulbs are shown passing through rubber grommet 7 8 fitted into an aperture in the reinforcing plate 80. T he described parts may be held assembled by suitable fastening means such as screws 82 as in the case of the form first described.

7 I claim:

, l. In a lamp for automobiles and the like, the combination of a pair of tubular stampings each having one end expanded, the oppositeends of the stampings being alined, means housed within said stampings for securing said ends together, a lamp socket mounted in one of said stampings,

. a lamp in the socket, a cover glass over the expanded end of said stamping, and a conductor connected to the socket and concealed within the stampings.

2. In a lamp for automobiles and the like, the combination of a pair of tubular stampings, each having one end thereof expanded,

the opposite ends of the stampings being closed and arranged in alinement, a stiffen-.

ing plate secured in the closed end of one of said stampmgs, securing means passing through said closed ends and the stiffening plate, a lamp socket mounted in one of said stampings, a lamp in the socket, a cover glass over the expanded end of said stamping, a conductor housed within the other stamping and connected to the socket, and a plate of stiff material secured in the expanded end of said last-named stam ing and adapted to receive securing means astening the lamp to a suitable support.

4. In a lamp for automobiles and the like, the combination of an integral tubular stamping having one end expanded to form the body of the lamp,'a cover glass over said end, the opposite end of said stamping being provided with an integral closure, a second tubular stamping having an expanded end, a cover secured over said end, the opposite end of the stamping having a stiffening plate secured therein, and fastening means connectingthe closed end of the first named stamping and the stiffening plate and concealed within the stampmgs.

5. In a lamp for automobiles and the like,

the combination of an integral tubular ing, and a conductor leading therefrom and housed within said stampings. I

- In testimony whereof'I affix my signature.

HOWARD O. MEAD. 

